Bell doesn't believe in letting up

Bulldog Notebook

Once away from Sanford Stadium, you won't find a more pleasant person than Georgia linebacker Kendrell Bell.

Quick with a smile and always a good quote (that's very important to reporters), Bell is one of the most easy-going players on the UGA team.

On the field, he becomes the Bulldogs' silent assassin.

Just one year removed from his playing days at Middle Georgia College, the senior from Augusta has established himself as one of the fiercest competitors in the SEC and a player whose knack for the big play has at times reached uncanny proportions.

Bone-shattering hits are also his specialty.

''I don't think other players fear me, but sometimes I think they fear the pain,'' Bell said. ''Maybe they haven't conditioned themselves well. I don't know, but why would you want to get all buffed up and not play hard?''

Bell doesn't have that problem.

Georgia's opponents are the ones who wind up suffering.

Besides being the team's fourth-leading tackler (61), Bell collected five sacks, blocked five kicks (two field goals and three punts), caused three fumbles, recorded 12 quarterback pressures and intercepted three passes.

Bell's all-out style doesn't take a break when he's on the practice field, either.

''I'm not holds barred. Going hard in practice makes a person better, so I'm not going to cut out nothing for nobody,'' Bell said. ''I want you to feel what you're going to feel on the field. If you bust me up, I'm going to get up. That's what I'm going to do on the field. That's why I think in the spring, people really work hard. I've seen a lot of guys get better because of that.''

Two weeks ago, the pair called Bulldog coach Jim Donnan on the phone to ask whether a comment they had read regarding an impending move to guard was true.

It wasn't.

''I didn't say that,'' Donnan said of the quote which appeared following the coach's appearance at the SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Ala., last month. ''Someone had asked me about our depth in the offensive line and both Stinchcomb and Jennings have played guard before. I have no plans to do this at this point.

''If that's what I said, I didn't mean to. We'll play them both at tackle, although Jonas is a good multi-guy who can play a lot places.''

Donnan added that sophomore tackles Alex Jackson and George Foster are ''starter-type players'' and ''will fit into the mix.''

As for senior Brady Pate and junior Curt McGill, Donnan said they will continue to work at guard and center.

The Bulldogs graduated left guard Steve Herndon and center Miles Luckie from last season.

Sullivan continues to impress

Signee Johnathan Sullivan continues to draw rave reviews.

The Griffin native originally signed with the Bulldogs in 1999, but grades forced him to attend Hargrave Military Academy last fall before he re-signed with Georgia last February.

''He's a very good athlete,'' Donnan said. ''Our players are already recruiting him for intramural basketball. He averaged over 20 points a game in high school, and our guys get their dibs on people like that pretty early.''

Donnan said the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder has shown tremendous quickness and should bolster the team's depth on the defensive line.

Sullivan recorded 43 tackles and 11 sacks last year for Hargrave.

Donnan takes his dig

As the press conference wrapped up Monday at McWhorter Hall, former Bulldog quarterback Buck Belue asked Donnan where the leadership from this year's team would come from.

Donnan didn't hesitate.

''790 the Zone,'' the coach said, referring to the Atlanta-based sports radio talk show. ''You guys organize that, give us some good ideas. We're waiting to hear what they tell us every day.''

One rumor had Donnan going to North Carolina at the end of this year, providing the Tar Heels flounder under coach Carl Torbush this fall.

''Nobody's pulling for Carl Torbush more than I am, I guarantee you that,'' deadpanned Donnan, whose name has been tied to the position at UNC for three years. ''I hope he has a great year. I'll be saying a lot of prayers for him. He's a good coach, and I hope they do well.''

Bulldogs picked fifth

ESPN The Magazine released its Top 25 college football poll Monday and the Georgia Bulldogs were selected No. 5.